African Wildlife & Environment Issue 79

GENERAL

GUEST EDITORIAL YOURWILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENT MAGAZINE

African Wildlife was launched in 1946 and grew to become the second longest standing newsletter and magazine in South Africa. In 2009, after much research and collaboration, WESSA was one of the founding partners in the launch of Environment - People and Conservation in Africa. This Environment magazine incorporated African Wildlife and brought together a number of key conservation groups in South Africa, in addition to providing information on WESSA’s activities and achievements, Environment magazine also reported on the many areas in which conservation organisations are working on collaboratively for the benefit of all. Environment tackled pressing conservation and environmental issues and provided fascinating, credible, authoritative, well-researched information that aimed to empower, and inspire readers to take action for the good of the environment. Unfortunately, over time, and with dwindling advertising support, several of the partnering NGOs withdrew, resulting in the final decision in early 2016 to close the publication. With the above as background,WESSA took the decision to reintroduce AfricanWildlife & Environment, using top writers as anchor contributors, all of whom are leaders in their respective fields. Some of these who have contributed from the beginning include are Prof Eugene Moll, Prof Anthony Turton and Bryan Havemann. The magazine continued to be edited by consulting editor Dr John Ledger who has been a key role player in African Wildlife, Environment and Over the past 95 years, WESSA has made an enormous contribution to conservation and environmental legislation, compliance and in promoting public participation, both locally and internationally. An important part of this contribution has been the raising of issues and sharing of information through African Wildlife, and later Environment magazines.

JohnWesson

now African Wildlife & Environment , also taking on the book reviews. With high quality photographic support by Albert Froneman, John Wesson and others, the final key person in the revival has been our graphics layout specialist Marlene McKay who expertly weaves the magazine together. The rest of the team consists of John and Jenny Wesson who do the production and first editing of the magazine, and Daleen van Manen who carries out the final edit and proofing. African Wildlife & Environment magazine kicked off where Environment magazine had stopped, and initially for several years was available in both hard copy and PDF, while 2021 saw it convert to a full e-magazine with a PDF as well. This was brought about by amongst others failing postal services, high costs of paper and printing, and the use of plastic packaging for posting it. The e-magazine has been applauded by many members and public alike. It is distributed widely, shared both locally and overseas. This year the magazine celebrates 75 years of promoting People Caring for the Earth . A recent welcome addition to the magazine is the young readers' section, written by Nadine Clarke, which has created a great deal of interest.

For more information, or to subscribe, please have a look at www.wessalife.org.za The African Wildlife & Environment team

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